Check out my DIY countertop over washer and dryer!
When I moved into my 1960’s home, there was no mud room or laundry room, and as a mama of two active little boys, we desperately needed both of these! For easy access, the solution was to make a small laundry room connected to the mudroom right at the garage entrance.
To maximize my workplace, and since the house came with a side-by-side washer dryer set, I decided this was the perfect place to make a DIY countertop over the entire thing. After realizing how expensive countertops are, I was really excited about the DIY countertop project because this was going to save me a ton of money.
I know that stackable washing machines are supposed to be space savers, but after completing this project, I’m a huge fan of the front loaders because of the long counter that can be added over them and act as the perfect folding space. Lastly, the other DIY project I did was to add built-in cabinets for extra storage in this laundry room makeover.
Come find out what I ended up using for my diy countertop over washer and dryer, how little it cost, and how beautiful it looks.
Just a quick heads-up: Everything in this post reflects my genuine opinions and recommendations, but it’s not a substitute for professional advice. To keep this content free, I use ads and include affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
DIY Front-Loading Washer Countertops
Having a flat surface over your washing machine creates the perfect work surface and storage space for laundry baskets, and if you are one of those people that actually iron, it’s a great spot for a tabletop ironing board. None of this is possible with a top load washer, so proceed only if you have front loaders.
I realized the trick to countertops over washer and dryer is to ensure you can still access the water lines and to achieve this, I had to create a removable laundry countertop. A removable countertop sounds more complicated than it actually was!
Using one by two, I created a base for the countertop to screw into so that if I needed to remove it, I could unscrew it from the base. Using my stud finder, I attached one by two to the side wall on the right, left, and along the back wall.
More on exactly how the process of these DIY countertops is to come, so keep reading! But first, let me take you through all the ideas I had for my laundry room countertop and what I ultimately ended up using.
Laundry Room Washer and Dryer Countertop Ideas
One commonly used material is natural or engineered stone, but these are so expensive! Since the purpose of my laundry room counter top was to cover the top of the machines and be sturdy enough for a workspace, I didn’t necessarily need stone, nor did I want to spend thousands. So, I started searching for other options.
Laminate countertops were one idea I considered. The laminate in stock at Home Depot was hideous, so don’t be discouraged if you’ve checked in the store and hated what you found. My advice is to go online, and you’ll find a much greater selection of decent-looking finishes, even one that looks like marble!
Wood countertops are another idea, and since my laundry room had all-white finishes, I decided to go this route to add warmth to the design. My most straightforward and affordable idea was a plywood countertop and maple plywood, more specifically. The benefit of plywood is it provides one continuous flat surface without any gaps between the boards.
A butcher block countertop was another idea I explored. I decided against this style because the depth needed to cover a washer and dryer is greater than a standard countertop, there would have to be a seam where you put two slabs together, and I didn’t love the idea of that.
The other idea I explored, and ended up going with, was a diy shiplap countertop. I found a pre-stained medium-colored shiplap at Lowes and put these together to create a DIY countertop. I love shiplap on walls, so why not add it on a horizontal surface? The shiplap added the farmhouse touch; it was a more high-end look than the plywood idea, lighter weight than the butcher block, and I only needed a few pieces to make the entire countertop!
How to Build DIY Countertop Over Washer and Dryer
Building a shiplap countertop over my washing and dryer was a fast and easy weekend DIY project and only needed a few supplies to complete. Here is the list of what I used:
- Pre-stained shiplap boards
- Stud finder
- Circular saw
- Wood screws
- Cordless brad nailer
- Tape measure
- Wood glue (optional)
DIY Countertop Over Washer and Dryer Steps
The first thing I did was determine the counter height. I needed to leave enough space between the washer and dry set so they could still breathe. Next, I made a base out of one by twos, which I attached directly to the side and back of the wall. These pieces of wood would act as the removable laundry countertop support.
The important thing with this base is that I attached it to the wall studs because this would be the primary point of support for the entire countertop. Although you could, I did not add any additional supports across the whole thing.
Next, I measured the width of the wall and cut my shiplap boards to size. Starting at the back, closest to the wall, I used wood screws and attached the board to the base and side piece (on each side). Using screws allows the board to quickly come off if the washer and dryer need repair, allowing access to the water lines.
To finish the top, I laid the shiplap one by one, butting them up to the back piece as tight as possible, and attached them by screwing them into the side support. It only took a few boards to complete the entire top, and the cool thing about using shiplap is you can create the perfect fit since you have total control over the length and width.
I opted to leave a tiny overhang over the front of my washer and dryer. Lastly, to give the front edge a more finished look, I ripped a shiplap board into a two-inch strip and attached it to the front using my nailer.
Small Laundry Room Ideas
Once you’ve added a counter space over your washer and dryer, you can use the wall space above the laundry machines to add extra storage space. I decided to use built-in cabinets in my laundry room because I needed more hidden storage. I had floating shelves in my kitchen in place of all the upper cabinets. It was beautiful, but to make up for all the open space, I needed to use some of the storage in my laundry room.
Storage in the laundry room was a good solution because of the kitchen’s proximity to my laundry room. I added two 36-inch cabinets, molding, and a small trim piece to make them look built-in. The cabinets I added to the top of the washer and dryer were more storage than I needed for detergent and other cleaning supplies, which was good news because this ended up being a great place to put my overflow kitchenware.
Laundry Room Storage
The other important thing to add to a small laundry room is storage for laundry (duh, haha). And the baskets. But think about it, even the smallest laundry room will need to store baskets and lots of clothes all at once, so having a spot to keep this stuff while you’re working through the piles of clothes is key.
The perfect space for a laundry basket was right in front of the washer and dryer, which was incredibly handy. This spot happened by chance, but I highly recommend this setup. And the super nice thing about adding a countertop over your washer and dryer is that you can keep the laundry basket out of the way by putting it on the counter!
Another handy little laundry basket storage hack was using the space between the washer and dryer for a basket. Instead of pushing the laundry machines close together, when I laid out my small laundry room, I separated them and put them as close to the side walls as possible. This arrangement created a larger, more functional space, and after a bit of searching on Amazon, I found a slim farmhouse-style laundry basket that fits perfectly!
Over Washer and Dryer Laundry Room Decor
No DIY project is complete without adding a little decor, and the laundry room is no different. It’s all about the details! My favorite part of every project is planning out these small details, which makes the project go from good to great.
Using the new counter space is a perfect spot for decor. I found inexpensive old glass containers in different sizes and arranged these in groups of three. I placed each arrangement on the sides, one on the left and one on the right. In the center, I found a light-up metal sign that said JOY, which embodied what I needed to feel while working in the laundry room.
The great thing about the counter space over the washing machine was its depth. It is much deeper than a standard kitchen countertop, and the extra space allowed me to have my pretty decor on display, but it still left a ton of space in front of the decor for everyday use.
Laundry Room Wall Art Idea
The other laundry room decor I added was these DIY printable signs. These black and white prints added the farmhouse touch I wanted in my laundry room. These prints are great because all you have to do is download the file and print it from your preferred printer.
I went with CVS and ordered them in poster size. I then framed them with matted frames from Michaels and hung them in gallery style. You can get your printable laundry room signs diy by checking out this post!
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